Coll – The Hazel

Healing Properties: Powdered hazelnuts can be mixed with honey or mead to help a cough. Tea of hazel leaves can ease a fever, and help to reduce menstrual cramps. Hazelnuts are a good source of vitamins and minerals.

Magical Uses: Hazel is one of the nine firewoods to be added to the Belfire for the festival of Beltane (May 1). The Nine Sacred Woods of the Belfire are birch, oak, rowan, willow, hawthorn, hazel, apple, grapevine and fir. Hazel wood is good for manifestation, for seeking wisdom, and for reconciliation. The hazel tree is known as the Tree of Wisdom. The Salmon of Wisdom is said to have grown wise from eating hazelnuts. Hazel rods are used for dousing. Hazels are said to grow on the borders between this world and the Otherworld, and therefore contain the wisdom of both realms. To harvest hazel at its peak of magic, do so at twilight on Samhain Eve. Cut hazel branches with a flint rather than with a knife.